HCS SPA Protection Group – coordinated law enforcement

Today, the HCS SPA Protection Group Partnership addresses the problems of antisocial behavior including illegal vehicular activities, dumping of rubbish, arson etc.The HCS Conservation Section’s work is currently being aimed at the Surrey Heath side of the Broadmoor to Bagshot Woods and Heath often with our volunteers working alongside the Surrey Wildlife Trust volunteers. Its members and local donations from the public largely fund the HCS. We have some excellent support from our many partners who are acknowledged.

The HCS SPA Protection Group Partnership. The HCS conceived the idea of a multi agency and landowner partnership group which was duly formed in 2002.

The mission of the group, which is chaired administered and coordinated by HCS, is the protection of members of the public and those engaged in bona fide activities from the dangers created by illegal vehicular activities encompassing off- road motorcycling, arson and other antisocial behaviour. This is intrinsically linked to protection of the fragile environment and its fauna and flora.

Enabling cross border, coordinated law enforcement exercises to be conducted in a professional, efficient and safe manner, the partnership has helped to overcome the difficulties being experienced in apprehending offenders traversing multi ownership land divided by Police and Local Authority Boundaries.

This partnership comprises Police (Surrey, MoD, Hampshire and Thames Valley), Natural England, Defence Estates, Forestry Commission, Crown Estates, Bracknell Forest Borough Council , various Wildlife Trusts, representatives from Hampshire CC, Surrey Fire and Rescue Service, SEEWF and other agencies and organisations who feel they can contribute to and/ or benefit from our work.HCS is represented on several Committees/Partnerships including the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst Conservation Group, South East England Wildfire Group, Thames Basin Heath SPA Access Management and Monitoring Partnership and associated with BTCV and is of cause ICO registered.

The Society is one of the Partners of the Thames Basin Heath SPA Access Management and Monitoring Partnerships and the Society has direct or indirect involvement with the thirteen sites in Hampshire, Berkshire and Surrey that make up the Thames Basin Heath SPA.

Sponsorship

To enable the Heathland Conservation Society to continue it’s work support from interested parties is eagerly sought.

Our expenditure covers such items as:

• Tools for conservation work• Storage for equipment• Insurance for volunteers including Public Liability• Radio System Equipment and licences• Administration

An independent group associated with BTCV, a registered charity HCS is ICO registered in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998